that picture of him on the german chopper
pulling a wheelie
over the barricades
represented for a bunch of kids
the rising above the repression
of their middle class lives
Hilts- The Cooler King!

I used to go over to my grade school
inside the brick alcove closest to the principal's office
with a hardball and a glove
and practice throwing the ball against the wall
like he did
pretending to be in solitary confinement
for the simple crime
of trying to escape from
my 1963-1970 existence.

watching people on the bus
weeping openly
the day after Dallas.

sitting in the bleachers
at the little league stands
with no one else around
trying to deal with the news
of bobby kennedy's death.

going to the canteen dance
the night of the weekend
of Martin Luther King's assassination
wondering
about the fire this time.

just wanted to blast outta town like a Bullitt.
badder and faster
down the crookedest street in America
just like Steve McQueen.